Garment with crotch

ABSTRACT

Shorts  1  as an example of a garment with a crotch comprises a main part  10 ; a pubic part  20  for covering a vicinity of a pubic bone; an upper edge end part  30  formed downward convex so as to extend obliquely upward on left and right sides from a center lower end portion  30   a  on an upper side of the pubic part  20 ; band-shaped first tightening parts  40   a , joined to the pubic part  20  and upper edge end part  30 , extending to the rear face side of the main part  10  while covering greater trochanters  73 ; second band-shaped tightening parts  40   b  covering a portion extending from any location over a sacrum to a lumbar spine to vicinities of left and right greater trochanters; and strongly tightening parts  50  disposed so as to cover the greater trochanters  73.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a garment with a crotch.

BACKGROUND ART

Garments with crotches, such as girdles and shorts, which can make wearers attain better postures and easier to walk by stabilizing their pelvises and hip joints have conventionally been known (e.g., Patent Literature 1). In such a garment with a crotch, a strongly tightening part having a tightening force stronger than that of a main part presses greater trochanters and supports gluteus maximus, so as to expand movable areas of hip joints, thereby enabling stable walking.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 3870232

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Meanwhile, we are often forced to perform bilaterally asymmetrical movements in daily life, and our pelvises are likely to become unstable when crossing legs while sitting and so forth on a routine basis. When such a state continues, activities of muscles may lose their balance and become uneven between the left and right sides of a body, thereby causing the body to feel fatigue, lassitude, stiffness, and the like. When such a state becomes habitual, the body is further distorted, thus falling into a vicious cycle.

While being able to improve the postures and walking of wearers, the techniques of the above-mentioned Patent Literature 1 and the like have not taken account of mitigating the fatigue and lassitude caused by distortions in bodies as such.

Though it has been desired in general to relieve the fatigue fully by taking a long bath or perform stretching exercises in order to mitigate the distortions in bodies, it takes time and effort, thereby making it desirable to readily prevent bodies from getting tired and stiff while keeping a normal life.

For overcoming the problem mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a garment with a crotch which can reduce distortions in a body and mitigate fatigue by simply wearing it and leading a normal life.

Solution to Problem

For achieving the above-mentioned object, the garment with a crotch in accordance with the present invention is a garment with a crotch, for covering at least part of a lower body of a wearer, comprising an elastic main part; a pubic part for covering a vicinity of a pubic bone; an upper edge end part, formed downward convex so as to extend obliquely upward on left and right sides from a center lower end portion on an upper side of the pubic part, having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part; a band-shaped first weakly tightening part having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part, one end of the first weakly tightening part being joined to the pubic part and upper edge end part so as to support an abdominal muscle, the first weakly tightening part extending obliquely downward substantially along a muscle fiber direction of an internal oblique while covering a greater trochanter, the other end of the first weakly tightening part extending on a rear face side of the main part so as to support a gluteus maximus; a band-shaped second weakly tightening part having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part, left and right portions of the second weakly tightening part being joined to each other at a position corresponding to any location over a sacrum to a lumbar spine, the second weakly tightening part covering a portion extending substantially along a muscle fiber direction of left and right gluteus maximus from the position so as to pass a vertex of a bulge of a hip or a vicinity thereof and reach at least a vicinity of the greater trochanter; and a strongly tightening part, disposed so as to cover the greater trochanter, having a tightening force stronger than that of the first and second weakly tightening parts.

When this garment with a crotch is worn, the upper edge end part generates a tightening force along the extending direction of the upper edge end part toward the pubic part, the first and second weakly tightening parts generate tightening forces along the longitudinal directions of the band-shaped forms thereof at the time of walking, and the strongly tightening part supports the greater trochanter, so as to prevent the garment and a human body wearing the same from deviating from each other at the position of the greater trochanter at the time of wearing.

When this garment with a crotch is worn, the upper edge end part causes a tightening force to act toward the pubic bone, whereby the pelvis of the wearer is held as being tilted forward. Further, the strongly tightening part exerts a tightening force upon the greater trochanter, thereby preventing the human body and the garment from deviating from each other at the position of the greater trochanter. These can tilt the pelvis forward while keeping it from fluctuating to and fro and left and right, so as to produce a stable body trunk axis.

Further, the weakly tightening parts exert tightening forces upon abdominal muscles and gluteus maximus along the longitudinal directions of the band-shaped forms at the time of walking, so as to offer support with favorable kickbacks following movements of the pelvic girdle, whereby the position of the pelvis can be pulled back to the center of the body trunk. This can guide the movements of the pelvic girdle with a favorable left/right balance, whereby muscles near the pelvic girdle are used in balance.

Thus, the pelvis of the wearer is held in the forward-tilted state, so as to produce a stable body trunk axis, while the movements of the pelvis are guided with a favorable left/right balance, so that muscles near the pelvic girdle can be used in balance, which reduces distortions in the body, thereby improving the left/right balance of the body. This softens muscles surrounding the pelvis, so as to expand the movable areas of the hip joints, while reducing lassitude and fatigue in the legs and back. Thus, the present invention can reduce the distortions in the body and mitigate the lassitude and fatigue in the legs and back by simply wearing it and leading a normal life.

Preferably, the upper edge end part extends obliquely upward on left and right sides from the center lower end portion to at least a position on or above an anterior superior iliac spine. Similarly, it is preferred for the upper edge end part to extend obliquely upward on left and right sides from the center lower end portion to at least a position below an outermost portion of an iliac crest.

Preferably, the upper edge end part has a center lower end portion placed below a midpoint between an anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic bone. Similarly, it is preferred for the center lower end portion of the upper edge end part to be placed above the pubic bone.

Preferably, the pubic part exhibits the highest compression.

This structure can increase the tightening force toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing, so as to enhance the action of tilting the pelvis more forward, which can more strongly prevent the pelvic girdle from fluctuating to and fro and left and right, so as to tilt the pelvis forward, thereby further improving the stability.

Preferably, the garment with a crotch further comprises a cloth part, joined to an upper side of the upper edge end part, for covering the wearer up to a waistline thereof when worn. This can expand the covering area up to the waistline at the time of wearing, whereby the feel of wearing and the design can be improved.

The present invention set forth in the foregoing is preferably employed for a garment with a crotch for females. When the wearer is male, on the other hand, the close contact of the pubic part with the wearer may be lowered by external genitals, so that the above-mentioned action of tightening force of the pubic part toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing may decrease. Also, the wearer may feel pain in the external genitals pressed by the pubic part.

Therefore, the pubic part may include an loosen portion at a position of external genitals of a male wearer, the loosen portion having a compression lower than that of the remaining portion of the pubic part.

This structure can enhance the compression of the portion other than the loosen portion in the pubic part even when the wearer is male, so that the tightening force toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing can act appropriately. Therefore, even when the wearer is male, the pelvis can be tilted forward as mentioned above, whereby a stable body trunk axis can be produced by tilting the pelvis forward while preventing it from fluctuating to and fro and left and right. This structure can cause the loosen portion to restrain the pubic part from pressing the external genitals, thereby reducing the pain in the external genitals of the male wearer.

It is also preferred for the portion other than the loosen portion in the pubic part to exhibit the highest compression in the garment with a crotch suitable for males. This structure can increase the tightening force toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing as mentioned above even when the wearer is male, so as to enhance the action of tilting the pelvis more forward, which can more strongly prevent the pelvic girdle from fluctuating to and fro and left and right, so as to tilt the pelvis forward, thereby further improving the stability.

It is also preferred for the garment with a crotch suitable for males to further comprise a cloth part, joined to an upper side of the upper edge end part, for covering the wearer up to a waistline thereof when worn. This can improve the feel of wearing and the design as mentioned above even when the wearer is male.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The garment with a crotch in accordance with the present invention can reduce distortions in a body and mitigate fatigue by simply wearing it and leading a normal life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating female shorts as an example of the garment with a crotch in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the female shorts in accordance with the first embodiment as seen from the rear side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a skeleton structure near a pelvis of a human body;

FIG. 4 is a set of diagrams illustrating an improvement in the left/right balance of a body by the shorts in accordance with the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating male underwear as an example of the garment with a crotch in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front side thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the male underwear in accordance with the second embodiment as seen from the rear side thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a pubic part in the male underwear in accordance with the second embodiment in a disassembled state;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a modified example of the shorts in accordance with the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a modified example of the male underwear in accordance with the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a set of perspective views illustrating shorts in accordance with examples of the first embodiment of the present invention and comparative examples as seen from the front side thereof;

FIG. 11 is a chart listing results of a functional validation test of the shorts in accordance with examples and comparative examples illustrated in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a chart listing results of a functional validation test of male underwear in accordance with examples of the second embodiment of the present invention and comparative examples.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent parts will be referred to with the same signs while omitting their overlapping descriptions.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating female shorts as an example of the garment with a crotch in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front side thereof, while FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the female shorts in accordance with the first embodiment as seen from the rear side thereof. FIG. 3 is a front view of a skeleton structure near a pelvis of a human body for explaining arrangements of constituents of the shorts in accordance with the first embodiment. The shorts 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise a main part 10, a pubic part 20, an upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40, and strongly tightening parts 50.

The main part 10 is constituted by an elastic fabric so as to cover the crotch and hips of a wearer while in close contact therewith. For example, a warp-knitted material (power net) constituted by nylon and polyurethane is employable for the main part 10.

The pubic part 20 is formed at a portion corresponding to the vicinity of the pubic bone 71 (see FIG. 3) of the wearer. Though the pubic part 20 is preferably formed by a patch of a material (e.g., a warp-knitted T/W material constituted by a mixture of nylon and polyurethane) having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 and strongly tightening parts 50, which will be explained later, in particular in order to favorably cause the action of tilting the pelvis forward, the same material as with the main part 10 or a nonelastic material may also be employable as long as the compression of the pubic part 20 is higher than that in any of the other parts (main part 10, upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40, and strongly tightening parts 50). By having the highest compression, the pubic part 20 acts such as to push the vicinity of the pubic bone 71 into the inside of the body, whereby the action of tilting the pelvis forward becomes stronger.

On the front side of the main part 10, the upper edge end part 30 is formed downward convex such that end portions 30 b, 30 c extending obliquely upward on left and right sides from a center lower end portion 30 a on the body trunk cover anterior superior iliac spines 72 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, in a front center region 10 a of the main part 10, the upper edge end part 30 forms an arc-like curve which is downward convex with its lowest point located at the center lower end portion 30 a. Then, while smoothly shifting to an upward convex curve toward lateral sides, the upper edge end part 30 gradually becomes asymptotically parallel to the waistline, so as to extend leftward and rightward parallel to the waistline on the rear side as illustrated in FIG. 2. The center lower end portion 30 a and its peripheral parts define an upper edge end of the pubic part 20.

Preferably, the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is placed in an area extending from a position on the pubic bone 71 to the midpoint between each of the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the pubic bone 71. That is, the lower limit position of the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is preferably located on the pubic bone 71, i.e., within the range of about 1 cm above and below the height of greater trochanters 73 (see FIG. 3). The upper limit position of the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper end part 30 preferably falls within the range of about 1 cm above and below the midpoint between any of the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the pubic bone 71, i.e., the height position in substantially the middle of a gap between the height position of the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the height position of the pubic bone 71 (the height position of the greater trochanters 73).

Preferably, the end portions 30 b, 30 c of the upper edge end part 30 are placed between the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and outermost portions 74 of iliac crests. That is, the lower limit positions of the end portions 30 b, 30 c of the upper edge end part 30 are located on the anterior superior iliac spines 72, while their upper limit positions are at the height position of the outermost portions 74 of iliac crests. It is preferred in particular for the upper edge end part 30 to have the end portions 30 b, 30 c placed on the anterior superior iliac spines 72 at the time of wearing. Here, by “the outermost portions of iliac crests” are meant the most leftward and rightward projecting parts of iliac crests when the pelvis is seen from the front side thereof as in FIG. 3.

Hence, the area that can be occupied by upper edge end part 30 in this embodiment is a hatched region 75 in FIG. 3.

The upper edge end part 30 generates a tightening force along the extending direction thereof toward the pubic part. Specifically, when worn, the upper edge end part 30 can generate a tightening force F1 toward the pubic part 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Preferably, the upper edge end part 30 is formed into a thin band, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, by a tape made of the same material as with the main part 10 or a material having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 so as to yield a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10. The tightening force of the upper edge end part 30 may be equal to or lower than that of the weakly tightening parts 40 or that of the strongly tightening parts 50 or, when a material having a tightening force stronger than that of the strongly tightening parts 50 is used for the pubic part 20, equal to or lower than that of the pubic part 20.

Each weakly tightening part 40, which has one end 40 c joined to the pubic part 20 and upper edge end part 30 so as to support abdominal muscles and the other end extending to the rear side so as to support a gluteus maximus, is constituted by a first tightening part (first weakly tightening part) 40 a and a second tightening part (second weakly tightening part) 40 b. More specifically, the above-mentioned abdominal muscles are mainly represented by an internal oblique. The first tightening part 40 a has one end 40 c joined to the pubic part 20 and upper edge end part 30. More specifically, one end 40 c of the first tightening part 40 a is joined to a section extending from an upper portion of the left or right end of the pubic part 20 to a portion of the upper edge end part 30 adjacent to the intersection between the left or right end of the pubic part and the upper edge end part 30. The first tightening parts 40 a are formed like bands, each of which is directed obliquely downward from one end 40 c substantially along the muscle fiber direction of its corresponding internal oblique and, while covering the greater trochanter 73, extends along the lower edge end of the main part 10 on the rear side, having end portions from the left and right sides joined to each other at the center of the shorts on the rear side.

The second tightening part 40 b are formed like bands, each of which has one end joined to its corresponding first tightening part 40 a in an overlapping manner along the lower boundary line of the first tightening part 40 a near the greater trochanter 73 and extends obliquely upward from the one end toward the waistline at the center on the rear side, having end portions from the left and right sides joined to each other at the center of the shorts on the rear side. In other words, the second tightening parts 40 b have left and right portions joined to each other at a position corresponding to any location over a sacrum to a lumbar spine and cover a portion extending substantially along muscle fiber directions of left and right gluteus maximus from the position so as to pass vertexes of bulges of hips or vicinities thereof and reach at least vicinities of the greater trochanters. Both of the pair of first tightening parts 40 a and the pair of second tightening parts 40 b are formed bilaterally symmetric about the body trunk axis of the wearer.

The weakly tightening parts 40 are constructed such as to have a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 and formed by a patch of the same material as with the main part 10, for example. Specifically, when worn, each first tightening part 40 a generates a tightening force F2 along the longitudinal direction of an area extending from one end 40 c to the other end on the rear side. Each second tightening part 40 b generates a tightening force F3 near the greater trochanter along the longitudinal direction of an area extending from the joint with the first tightening part 40 a and the portion where the end portions from the left and right sides are joined to each other at the center of the shorts on the rear side.

When one end 40 c of the first tightening part 40 a joins with the pubic part 20, the position 40 d of the intersection between the lower boundary line of one end 40 c of the first tightening part 40 a and the left or right end of the pubic part 20 is preferably located on the pubic bone 71, i.e., preferably falls within the range of about 1 cm above and below the height position of the greater trochanters 73. This is the same as with the lower limit position of the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 mentioned above.

The strongly tightening parts 50 are formed such as to cover the greater trochanters 73 and constructed such as to have a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 and weakly tightening parts 40. Specifically, the strongly tightening parts 50 are portions where the first and second tightening parts 40 a, 40 b overlap, i.e., rhombic portions hatched in FIGS. 1 and 2. When each of the first and second tightening parts 40 a, 40 b is formed by a patch, the strongly tightening parts 50 are constructed by two layers of patches, so as to have a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 and weakly tightening parts 40.

The strongly tightening parts 50 thus support the greater trochanters by a tightening force stronger than that of the weakly tightening parts 40, thereby making it possible to prevent the human body and the garment from deviating from each other at the positions of the greater trochanters at the time of wearing.

Each of the strongly tightening parts 50, which are portions shielding the greater trochanters 73, preferably covers a region extending from the greater trochanter position in a standard body proportion by about 8 to 10 cm in the vertical direction and by about 15 to 20 cm in the anteroposterior direction in view of personal differences and movable areas. Therefore, the lowest point of the strongly tightening parts 50 is preferably about 4 to 5 cm below the position of the greater trochanters 73 in the standard body proportion.

When thus constructed shorts 1 are worn, the upper edge end part 30 generates the tightening force F1 along the extending direction thereof toward the pubic part 20. The tightening force F1 stabilizes the pelvis in a forward-tilted state. As a result, a stable body trunk can be produced in the pelvic girdle.

Since the pubic part 20 has the highest compression, the forward-tilted state of the pelvis is further stabilized, whereby a more stable axis can be produced in the pelvic girdle.

Since the strongly tightening parts 50 cover the greater trochanters by a tightening force stronger than that of the first tightening parts 40 a, the human body and the garment can be prevented from deviating from each other at the position of the greater trochanters at the time of wearing.

Meanwhile, the pelvis is inherently slightly tilted forward when seen laterally but gradually erects under unnecessary load such as an abnormal way of walking in daily life. When the amount of forward tilting of the pelvis becomes smaller, the body trunk axis gets unstable, whereby movements lose their balance.

In view of such circumstances, the shorts 1 in accordance with this embodiment provide the tightening force F1 directed from the upper portion of the pelvis toward the pubic bone 71, so as to hold the pelvis of the wearer in the forward-tilted state, thereby making it possible to produce a stable body trunk axis.

Also, in thus constructed shorts 1, the tightening forces F2, F3 in the longitudinal direction of the first and second tightening parts 40 a, 40 b constituting the weakly tightening parts 40 offer support with favorable kickbacks following movements of the pelvic girdle at the time of walking, whereby the position of the pelvis can be pulled back to the center of the body trunk. This can guide the movements of the pelvic girdle with a favorable left/right balance, whereby muscles near the pelvic girdle are used in balance.

Thus, the shorts 1 in accordance with this embodiment can hold the pelvis of the wearer in the forward-tilted state, so as to produce a stable body trunk axis, while guiding the movements of the pelvis with a favorable left/right balance, so that muscles near the pelvic girdle can be used in balance. This reduces distortions in the body, so as to improve the left/right balance of the body, which softens muscles surrounding the pelvis, so as to expand the movable areas of the hip joints, thereby mitigating lassitude and fatigue in the legs and back.

FIG. 4 is a set of diagrams illustrating an improvement in the left/right balance of a body by the shorts 1 in accordance with the first embodiment. FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) represent the same person measured on different days but at the same time of day. FIG. 4( a) is a diagram illustrating the left/right difference in movable areas of hip joints when measurement shorts were worn after other shorts as a comparative example had been worn for 6 hr, while FIG. 4( b) is a diagram illustrating the left/right difference in internally-rotating movable areas of the hip joints when the measurement shorts were worn after the shorts 1 in accordance with this embodiment had been worn for 6 hr. FIG. 4( c) is a diagram illustrating how the left/right difference in movable areas of hip joints varies between FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b). As FIG. 4( c) illustrates, wearing the shorts 1 in accordance with this embodiment is seen to reduce the left/right difference in the internal rotation angle of the hip joints, thereby improving the left/right balance of the body.

The above-mentioned shorts 1 in accordance with the first embodiment are preferably employed for a garment with a crotch for females. When the wearer is male, on the other hand, the close contact of the pubic part 20 with the wearer may be lowered by external genitals, so that the above-mentioned action of the tightening force F1 toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing may decrease. Also, the wearer may feel pain in the external genitals pressed by the pubic part 20. Therefore, the inventors contrive male underwear which can improve the problems mentioned above.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating male underwear as an example of the garment with a crotch in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front side thereof, while FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the male underwear in accordance with the second embodiment as seen from the rear side. The male underwear 1A illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the first embodiment in that it comprises a main part 10A and a pubic part 20A in place of the main part 10 and pubic part 20 in the female shorts 1.

As with the above-mentioned main part 10, the main part 10A is constituted by an elastic fabric so as to cover the crotch and hips of a wearer while in close contact therewith. For example, a jersey-knitted material constituted by cotton and polyurethane is employable for the main part 10A.

The pubic part 20A is formed at a portion corresponding to the vicinity of the pubic bone 71 (see FIG. 3) of the wearer and a crotch part thereof. The pubic part 20A has an loosen portion 20 a at the position of external genitals of a male wearer, while the loosen portion 20 a exhibits a compression lower than that of the remaining portion 20 b of the pubic part 20 a. Thus, the pubic part 20A is formed such that the portion 20 b other than the loosen portion 20 a favorably causes the action of tilting the pelvis forward.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a pubic part 20A in a disassembled state for explaining the pubic part 20A in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the pubic part 20A is constituted by a front fabric 20 c, a rear fabric 20 d, and an internal member 20 e interposed between the front and rear fabrics 20 c, 20 d. For example, the same material as with the main part 10A may be employed for the front and rear fabrics 20 c, 20 d.

On the other hand, the internal member 20 e has such a form that a portion corresponding to the male external genitals (i.e., external genital organs; penis and testicles in particular) is cut out. In this embodiment, the internal member 20 e is formed into a substantially inverted U-shaped pattern so as to produce an elliptical cutout. The internal member 20 e has a gourd-shaped cutout which is narrower below the leading end of the penis (glans penis), while the left and right margins on the lower side of the gourd shape are sewn together, so as to yield the elliptical cutout. The resulting cutout corresponds to the loosen portion 20 a of the pubic part 20A.

Though the internal member 20 e is preferably formed by a material (e.g., a warp-knitted T/W power net material constituted by a mixture of nylon and polyurethane) having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10A and strongly tightening parts 50 in particular in order to favorably cause the action of tilting the pelvis forward as mentioned above, the same material as with the main part 10A or a nonelastic material may also be employable as long as the compression of the portion 20 b other than the loosen portion 20 a of the pubic part 20A is higher than that of any of the other parts (main part 10A, upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40, and strongly tightening parts 50). By having the highest compression, the portion 20 b other than the loosen portion 20 a of the pubic part 20A acts such as to push the vicinity of the pubic bone 71 into the inside of the body, whereby the action of tilting the pelvis forward becomes stronger.

As with the shorts 1 in accordance with the first embodiment, the male underwear 1A in accordance with the second embodiment comprises the upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40 (first and second tightening parts 40 a, 40 b), and strongly tightening parts 50.

While the female shorts 1 in accordance with the first embodiment represent an example in which the upper edge end part 30 forms a curve extending obliquely upward on lateral sides from the center lower end portion 30 a on the front side and gradually becoming asymptotically parallel to the waistline, linear designs are preferred in male underwear. Therefore, in the male underwear 1A in accordance with the second embodiment, the upper edge end part 30 may be formed into a substantially V-shape extending essentially linearly upward on lateral sides from the center lower end portion 30 a on the front side.

While the female shorts 1 in accordance with the first embodiment represent an example in which the position of the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 and the position 40 d of the intersection between the lower boundary line of one end 40 c of the first tightening part 40 a and the left or right end of the pubic part 20 are located at the lowest limit position of the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30, the position of the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 in male underwear is preferably shifted toward the above-mentioned upper limit position thereof so as not to come into contact with the external genitals.

The male underwear 1A in accordance with the second embodiment can enhance the compression of the portion 20 b other than the loosen portion 20 a in the pubic part 20A even when the wearer is male, so that the tightening force F1 toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing can act appropriately. Therefore, even when the wearer is male, the pelvis can be tilted forward as mentioned above, whereby a stable body trunk axis can be produced by tilting the pelvis forward while preventing it from fluctuating to and fro and left and right.

Hence, the male underwear 1A in accordance with the second embodiment can also yield merits similar to those of the shorts 1 in accordance with the first embodiment.

The male underwear 1A in accordance with the second embodiment can restrain the loosen portion 20 a of the pubic part 20 from pressing the external genitals, thereby reducing the pain in the external genitals of the male wearer.

Though preferred embodiments of the garment with a crotch in accordance with the present invention have been explained in the foregoing in terms of the female shorts 1 and male underwear 1A by way of example, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the shorts 1 may further comprise a cloth part 60, on the upper side of the upper edge end part 30, covering the wearer up to the waistline. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the male underwear 1A may further comprise a cloth part 60, on the upper side of the upper edge end part 30, covering the wearer up to the waistline. The same material as with the main parts 10, 10A can be employed for the cloth part 60. This can expand the covered area up to the waistline at the time of wearing, whereby the feel of wearing and the design can be improved in the shorts 1 and male underwear 1A.

Various materials in use as materials for female shorts and male underwear, e.g., warp-knitted materials such as power net and lace, weft-knitted materials such as jersey-knitted materials, and tubular-knitted (fashioning-knitted) materials, can be employed as materials for the main parts 10, 10A without being restricted by the embodiments.

The weakly tightening parts 40, strongly tightening parts 50, and pubic part 20 may be attached to the main part 10 by either sewing or bonding. The weakly tightening parts 40, strongly tightening parts 50, and pubic part 20 may be formed by being joined to the main part 10 or by changing the knitting method, so as to yield portions having a stronger tightening force. The weakly tightening parts 40, strongly tightening parts 50, and pubic part 20 may be integrally formed with the main part 10 by applying (e.g., printing) a urethane resin or opal finish.

While the second embodiment exemplifies a three-layer structure interposing the internal member 20 e between the front and rear fabrics 20 c, 20 d as a method of forming pubic part 20A, the member 20 e may be sewn, bonded, or joined to the main part 10A in the pubic part 20A as in the above-mentioned method of forming the pubic part 20. The member 20 e may also be formed by changing the knitting method when forming the main part 10A, applying (e.g., printing) a urethane resin, or opal finish as in the method of forming the pubic part 20.

The upper edge end part 30 may be formed such as to exhibit a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 (main part 10A) by sewing a tape or stretch lace to the main part 10 (main part 10A), return finishing, a connecting line between a lower abdominal clothing fabric and the main part 10 (main part 10A), or the like or such as to exhibit a tightening force stronger than that of the main part 10 (main part 10A) while being integrally formed therewith by changing the knitting method, applying (e.g., printing) a urethane resin, opal finish, or the like.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will now be explained more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples. The same explanations as with the female shorts 1 and male underwear 1A in accordance with the above-mentioned embodiments will be omitted.

To begin with, shorts 101, 102, 103 in accordance with Examples 1 to 3 of the first embodiment and shorts 104, 105, 106, 107 in accordance with Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were subjected to a functional validation test. FIG. 10 is a set of perspective views illustrating shorts in accordance with examples of the first embodiment of the present invention and comparative examples as seen from the front side thereof.

Example 1 illustrated in FIG. 10( a) represents the shorts 101 comprising an upper edge end part 31 having a center lower end portion 31 a located at substantially the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the pubic bone 71 (the above-mentioned upper limit position) while being formed downward convex from the center lower end portion 31 a such as to pass over the left and right anterior superior iliac spines 72 and a pubic part 21 employing the same material as with the body part 10. Example 2 illustrated in FIG. 10( b) represents the shorts 102 comprising an upper edge end part 32 having a center lower end portion 32 a located on the pubic bone 71 (the above-mentioned lower limit position) while being formed downward convex from the center lower end portion 31 a such as to pass over the left and right anterior superior iliac spines 72 and a pubic part 22 exhibiting a compression higher than that of the main part 10 and strongly tightening parts 50. Example 3 illustrated in FIG. 10( c) represents the shorts 103 comprising an upper edge end part 31 having a center lower end portion 31 a located at substantially the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the pubic bone 71 (the above-mentioned upper limit position) while being formed downward convex from the center lower end portion 31 a such as to pass over the left and right anterior superior iliac spines 72 (i.e. having the same form as with Example 1) and a pubic part 23 exhibiting a compression higher than that of the main part 10 and strongly tightening parts 50.

Comparative Example 1 illustrated in FIG. 10( d) represents the shorts 104 including a pubic part 24, located below the waistline, exhibiting a compression higher than that of the strongly tightening parts 50. Comparative Example 2 illustrated in FIG. 10( e) represents the shorts 105 including a pubic part 25, located on the waistline, exhibiting a compression higher than that of the strongly tightening parts 50. Comparative Example 3 illustrated in FIG. 10( f) represents the shorts 106 comprising an upper edge end part 31 having a center lower end portion 31 a located at substantially the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the pubic bone 71 (the above-mentioned upper limit position; as with Examples 1 and 3) and a pubic part 23 exhibiting a compression higher than that of the strongly tightening parts 50 (i.e., having the same form and function as those in Example 3) without the weakly tightening parts 40 and strongly tightening parts 50. Comparative Example 4 illustrated in FIG. 10( g) represents the shorts 107, free of the upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40, and strongly tightening parts 50, having a pubic part 26 employing the same material as with the main part 10 without using a patch.

The shorts 101, 102, 103 in accordance with Examples 1 to 3 of the present invention and the shorts 104, 105, 106, 107 in accordance with Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were subjected to the functional validation test. Using an optical reflection type motion capture system manufactured by Vicon, the functional validation test for measuring the postures of wearers of shorts during walking was performed. In the functional validation test, the wearers of shorts walked at a speed of 3.8 km/hr, and the measurement was started after the wearers had walked for 90 sec and ended after the walking of 12 sec.

In the functional validation test, for each wearer, markers detectable by a measurement device were attached near the manubrium, xiphoid process, 7th cervical vertebra, and 10th thoracic vertebrae as body segments, and near the left anterior iliac spine, right anterior iliac spine, left posterior iliac spine, and right posterior iliac spine as pelvis segments.

From the relative relationship between the body and pelvis segments, the movable area (range) and the right/left difference (difference) (the difference between a leftward rotational angle from a reference position and a rightward rotational angle from the reference position) were calculated for each of a rotation, which was an action of rotating about the body trunk of the wearer as an axis, and side bend of each wearer. The left/right difference was expressed by the ratio (%) thereof with respect to the movable area. The more correct walking posture is indicated by the greater movable area of rotation and by the left/right difference of rotation and range and left/right difference of side bend closer to 0. The above-mentioned “segments” are action units based on 4 points where the markers are attached. For example, the movable area and left/right difference of rotation and the range and left/right difference of side bend may be calculated according to the correlation among the midpoints of the four points where the markers are attached.

In the case of a wearer with a distorted skeleton, a state tilted leftward or rightward can be taken as a reference, whereby it can be determined that the distortion is reduced as the range (amplitude) of a side bend action becomes smaller.

In the functional validation test, for each of 5 wearers A to E, the respective cases wearing the shorts in accordance with the present invention (Examples 1 to 3) and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were compared.

FIG. 11 is a chart listing the results of the functional validation test. In FIG. 11, the cases improved over Comparative Example 4 (i.e., yielding greater movable area of rotation and smaller left/right difference of rotation and left/right difference and range of side bend) are marked with a circle in each of the measurement results of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. The number of people whose measurement results are improved over Comparative Example 4 in the wearers A to E is also shown for each of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 in the row of “people count.”

In Examples 1 to 3, both of the movable area and left/right difference of rotation are improved over those in Comparative Examples, and the effect of improving the left/right difference of rotation is large in particular. When the left/right difference and movable area of rotation in Examples 1 to 3 are concerned, Example 2 is seen to be the most improved.

In Example 1, the pubic part 21 itself seems to have such a small tightening force that the upper edge end part 31 concentrates a force (compression) upon the pubic bone, thereby reducing the left/right difference of rotation. In Example 2, the compression of the pubic part 22 seems to become higher, thereby expanding the movable area of rotation. In Example 3, the pubic part 23 has an area larger than that in Example 2, so that the compression disperses, thereby lowering the evaluation of the movable area of rotation. However, since both of Example 1 in which the pubic part 21 is made of the same material as with the main part 10 without using a patch and Example 2 in which the area of the pubic part 20 is small make pubic hair visible and thus are unfavorable in terms of design, providing the pubic part 23 such as to extend like that of Example 3 while using a patch so as to make the vicinity of pubic hair less visible allows function and design to be balanced well.

Since the left/right difference of rotation is improved as illustrated in FIG. 11, Examples 1 to 3 are seen to reduce distortions in the body and improve the left/right balance of the body. Since the movable area of rotation is also improved, Examples 1 to 3 show that distortions in the body are reduced, whereby the movable area of hip joints is expanded.

That is, the garment with a crotch in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is seen to be able to reduce distortions in a body and mitigate fatigue by simply wearing it and leading a normal life.

Male underwear in accordance with Examples 11 and 12 of the second embodiment of the present invention and male underwear in accordance with Comparative Examples 11 to 13 were subjected to a functional validation test.

Example 11 represents the male underwear 1A in accordance with the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprising the main part 10A, pubic part 20A, upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40 (first and second tightening parts 40 a, 40 b), and strongly tightening parts 50. That is, in Example 11, the pubic part 20A has the loosen portion 20 a with a lower compression at the position of external genitals of a male wearer, while the compression of the portion 20 b other than the loosen portion 20 a is higher than that of the main part 10A and strongly tightening parts 50. In Example 11, as in the female shorts 103 of Example 3 illustrated in FIG. 10( c), an upper edge end part 30 has a center lower end portion 30 a located at substantially the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spines 72 and the pubic bone 71 (the above-mentioned upper limit position) while being formed downward convex from the center lower end portion 31 a such as to pass over the left and right anterior superior iliac spines 72.

Example 12 differs from Example 11 in its upper edge end part 30. That is, in Example 12, as in the female shorts 102 of Example 2 illustrated in FIG. 10( b), the upper edge end part 30 has a center lower end portion 30 a located on the pubic bone 71 (the above-mentioned lower limit position) while being formed downward convex from the center lower end portion 30 a such as to pass over the left and right anterior superior iliac spines 72.

Comparative Example 11 differs from Example 11 in its pubic part 20A. That is, the pubic part 20A does not have the loosen portion 20 a, while the compression of the pubic part 20A as a whole is higher than that of the main part 10A and strongly tightening parts 50.

Comparative Example 12 differs from Example 11 in its upper edge end part 30. That is, in Comparative Example 12, as in the female shorts 104 of Comparative Example 1 illustrated in FIG. 10( d), the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is located above the above-mentioned upper limit position but below the waistline.

As with the female shorts 107 of Comparative Example 4 illustrated in FIG. 10( g), Comparative Example 13 is free of the upper edge end part 30, weakly tightening parts 40 (first and second tightening parts 40 a, 40 b), and strongly tightening parts 50, while its pubic part 20A does not have the loosen portion 20 a but employs the same material as with the main part 10 as a whole.

In this functional validation test, after leading a normal life while wearing underwear for about 6 hr, the left/right difference in foot pressure of the wearer was measured. In the functional validation test, for each of 5 wearers F to J, the cases wearing the male underwear in accordance with the present invention (Examples 11 and 12) and Comparative Examples 11 to 13 were compared with each other.

FIG. 12 is a chart listing the results of the functional validation test. In FIG. 12, the cases improved over Comparative Example 13 (i.e., yielding smaller left/right difference in foot pressure) are marked with a circle in each of the measurement results of Examples 11 and 12 and Comparative Examples 11 and 12. The number of people whose measurement results are improved over Comparative Example 13 in the wearers F to J is also shown for each of Examples 11 and 12 and Comparative Examples 11 and 12 in the row of “people count.”

In this functional validation test, it is determined that there is an improvement effect when the improvement effect is seen in at least 3 wearers.

FIG. 12 shows that Example 11 and Comparative Example 11 are more effective in improving the left/right difference in foot pressure than Comparative Example 13. In particular, Example 11 is seen to improve the left/right difference in foot pressure most effectively. The following will verify these results.

It seems that, since the pubic part 20A does not have the loosen portion 20 a, the compression of the pubic part upon the wearer is lowered by the external genitals, whereby the action of the tightening force toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing decreases in Comparative Example 11. On the other hand, Example 11 seems to be able to enhance the compression of the portion 20 b other than the loosen portion 20 a in the pubic part 20A, thereby causing the tightening force F1 at the time of wearing to act appropriately toward the pubic bone.

It seems that, since the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 in Comparative Example 12 is higher than the above-mentioned upper limit position, the above-mentioned action of the tightening force F1 toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing decreases, thereby failing to produce a stable body trunk axis by tilting the pelvis forward. In Example 11, on the other hand, it seems that, since the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is located at the above-mentioned upper limit position, the tightening force F1 at the time of wearing can act appropriately toward the pubic bone, so as to tilt the pelvis forward, thereby producing a stable body trunk axis.

While the improvement effect in the female shorts is greater in Example 2, i.e., as the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is closer to the lower limit position, as mentioned above, Example 11 in which the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is located at the upper limit position yields an improvement effect greater than that of Example 12 in which the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is located at the lower limit position in the male underwear. This seems to be because the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 is located so low in Example 12 as to abut against the external genitals in some people, whereby the close contact of the pubic part may be lowered by the external genitals, which decreases the above-mentioned action of the tightening force F1 toward the pubic bone at the time of wearing. In other words, it is preferred for the center lower end portion 30 a of the upper edge end part 30 to be located at the upper limit position in the male underwear.

Since the left/right difference in foot pressure is thus improved in Example 11, it is seen that distortions in a body are reduced, so that the left/right balance of the body is ameliorated even when the wearer is male. Example 11 also improves the movable area of rotation, thereby indicating that distortions in the body are reduced, so as to expand the movable area of hip joints.

That is, the garment with a crotch in accordance with the second embodiment is expected to be able to reduce distortions in a body and mitigate fatigue by simply wearing it and leading a normal life even when the wearer is male.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to uses which can reduce distortions in a body and mitigate fatigue by simply wearing it and leading a normal life.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1, 1A shorts (garment with a crotch) -   10, 10A main part -   20, 20A pubic part -   20 a loosen portion -   20 b portion other than the loosen portion -   30 upper edge end part -   30 a center lower end portion -   40 weakly tightening part -   40 a first tightening part (first weakly tightening part) -   40 b second tightening part (second weakly tightening part) -   50 strongly tightening part -   60 cloth part -   71 pubic bone -   72 anterior superior iliac spine -   73 greater trochanter -   74 outermost portion of iliac crest 

1. A garment with a crotch, for covering at least part of a lower body of a wearer, comprising: an elastic main part; a pubic part for covering a vicinity of a pubic bone; an upper edge end part, formed downward convex so as to extend obliquely upward on left and right sides from a center lower end portion on an upper side of the pubic part, having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part; a band-shaped first weakly tightening part having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part, one end of the first weakly tightening part being joined to the pubic part and upper edge end part so as to support an abdominal muscle, the first weakly tightening part extending obliquely downward substantially along a muscle fiber direction of an internal oblique while covering a greater trochanter, the other end of the first weakly tightening part extending on a rear face side of the main part so as to support a gluteus maximus; a band-shaped second weakly tightening part having a tightening force stronger than that of the main part, left and right portions of the second weakly tightening part being joined to each other at a position corresponding to any location over a sacrum to a lumbar spine, the second weakly tightening part covering a portion extending substantially along a muscle fiber direction of left and right gluteus maximus from the position so as to pass a vertex of a bulge of a hip or a vicinity thereof and reach at least a vicinity of the greater trochanter; and a strongly tightening part, disposed so as to cover the greater trochanter, having a tightening force stronger than that of the first and second weakly tightening parts.
 2. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein, when worn, the upper edge end part generates a tightening force along the extending direction of the upper edge end part toward the pubic part, the first and second weakly tightening parts generate tightening forces along the longitudinal directions of the band-shaped forms thereof at the time of walking, and the strongly tightening part supports the greater trochanter, so as to prevent the garment and a human body from deviating from each other at the position of the greater trochanter at the time of wearing.
 3. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge end part extends obliquely upward on left and right sides from the center lower end portion to at least a position on or above an anterior superior iliac spine.
 4. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge end part extends obliquely upward on left and right sides from the center lower end portion to at least a position below an outermost portion of an iliac crest.
 5. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge end part has a center lower end portion placed below a midpoint between an anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic bone.
 6. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge end part has a center lower end portion placed above the pubic bone.
 7. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein the pubic part exhibits the highest compression.
 8. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, further comprising a cloth part, joined to an upper side of the upper edge end part, for covering the wearer up to a waistline thereof when worn.
 9. The garment with a crotch according to claim 1, wherein the pubic part includes an loosen portion at a position of external genitals of a male wearer; and wherein the loosen portion has a compression lower than that of the remaining portion of the pubic part.
 10. The garment with a crotch according to claim 9, wherein the portion other than the loosen portion in the pubic part exhibits the highest compression.
 11. The garment with a crotch according to claim 9, further comprising a cloth part, joined to an upper side of the upper edge end part, for covering the wearer up to a waistline thereof when worn. 